Automatic rating system using background audio cues

ABSTRACT

Methods and systems for capturing, transmitting and processing data for generating ratings relating to multimedia programming based on passively obtained user cues are disclosed herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to providing multimedia contentover a communications network, and more particularly, to an automatedsystem for rating such multimedia content based on cues that arepassively gathered from the user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The delivery of multimedia and other content over communicationsnetworks is well known in the art. Examples include, but are not limitedto, web browsing, File Transfer Protocol (FTP), Internet Protocol (IP)services such as Voice-over-IP (VoIP), and even conventional CableTelevision (CATV) over Hybrid Fiber Coax (HFC).

In the context of television programming, delivered either via HFC, IPor the like, current technology enables users to provide ratings forsuch programming (or other dynamic media such as radio, CD, audio books,etc.). However, the current state of the art requires that the usersactively provide such feedback. This is often accomplished by the usermanipulating a remote control or keyboard. For example, the well knownTiVo® remote has data input controls for accepting such user input.However, the need for active user participation decreases the likelihoodfor the typical TV audience to provide any feedback.

It would therefore be desirable to provide a system and methodologywhereby a viewer of multimedia content can provide feedback to a serviceprovider or other entity in a transparent, non-invasive way thatobviates the need for explicit viewer participation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with aspects of the invention(s), methods and systems forcapturing, transmitting and processing data for generating ratingsrelating to multimedia programming based on passively obtained user cuesare disclosed herein.

An exemplary method, in the broadest sense, generally comprises the stepof: receiving data over the communications network, the data comprisingcues providing feedback regarding the multimedia content from at leastone of the end users in a manner transparent to the user.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a system forgathering user feedback, that can be used for example, to ratemultimedia content that is distributed to end users over acommunications network, comprises: a network element adapted forreceiving data over the communications network, the data comprising cuesproviding feedback regarding the multimedia content from at least one ofthe end users in a manner transparent to the user.

In accordance with still another aspect of the invention, a memorymedium containing programmable machine readable instructions which, whenexecuted by a processor, enable a network element to obtain rating dataregarding multimedia content that is communicated to end users over acommunications network, enable a system, device, network or other entityor apparatus to receive data over the communications network, where thedata comprises cues providing feedback regarding the multimedia contentfrom at least one of the end users in a manner transparent to the user.

These and further advantages will become apparent to those skilled inthe art as the present invention is described with particular referenceto the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic of an illustrative network architecture embodyinga Hybrid Fiber Coax (HFC) network serving a plurality of users;

FIG. 2 is a schematic of a user site that provides for multimediacontent distribution to a user and a remote node communicating with theuser site;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart describing a Ratings Method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to theaccompanying drawing figures wherein like numbers represent likeelements throughout. Before embodiments of the invention are explainedin detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited inits application to the details of the examples set forth in thefollowing description or illustrated in the figures. The invention iscapable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in avariety of applications and in various ways. Also, it is to beunderstood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for thepurpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The useof “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof hereinis meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalentsthereof as well as additional items.

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, a method and systemfor rating multimedia content is disclosed. With reference to FIG. 1, anillustrative network architecture in the form a Hybrid Fiber Coax (HFC)delivery system is shown, which generally comprises an access network100 that delivers communications services to a plurality of end users102 ₁, 102 ₂, . . . , 102 _(N). The access network may comprise, in anexemplary expedient (shown here as an optical network) a Remote Node(RN) 104 coupled to a Central Office (CO) 106 or other entity. The RN104 may be adapted to communicate with the end users 102 ₁, 102 ₂, . . ., 102 _(N) via optical, electrical, electro-optical, or any otherhereinafter developed network technology. The CO 106 and RN 104communicate with each other in a conventional fashion and suchcommunications and system architectures are not relevant to the presentinvention. In the context of multimedia content delivery, a contentserver 108 that generates or stores multimedia content is coupled to theaccess network via another network shown generally at 110.

FIG. 2 is a schematic of a RN 204 coupled to an exemplary end user site202 _(N) (e.g., a residence or business). End user site 202 _(N) mayinclude a plurality of network access devices, such as, for example, aTV 206, personal computer 208, telephone 210 and/or the like. Multimediacontent 212 is presented to an end user 214 in a conventional manner viathe network access device. In accordance with the present invention, apassive feedback device 216, which is either part of the network accessdevice or a standalone apparatus, enables data comprising “user cues” tobe transparently “received” from the viewer of the multimedia content.The “data” may be in the form of audio, visual or audio-visual “cues.”In this regard, the passive feedback device 216 may be a microphone,video camera or some like apparatus that is adapted to be coupled to thenetwork.

With reference to FIG. 3, a method in accordance with an aspect of theinvention for rating multimedia content is disclosed. The methodgenerally comprises the step 300 of receiving data over a communicationsnetwork from an end user, where such data comprises cues that providereal-time (or almost real-time) user feedback concerning the multimediacontent. In step 302, a “system” (architecture is not relevant at thispoint) processes the data and extracts the user “feedback”, which may bein the form of a viewer laughing or otherwise reacting to something seenin the programming.

The cues, as previously discussed, may be aural, visual or audio-visualin nature and can be measured in terms of intensity and/or duration.Such cues may further be processed with specific regard to themultimedia content stream i to enable a service provider or other entityto generate “ratings” for the programming in step 304. In this context,the cues may be temporally mapped against the content which could thenbe distributed in step 306 for multiple purposes, including but notlimited to virtual audiences 308, providing show recommendations 310,enabling producers to understand which content is most likely togenerate the best revenue 312, advertisers 314 and service providers(e.g., TV networks) 316.

For example, a particular “comedy” might cause a viewer to laugh, aninteresting documentary might elicit a thought provoking discussion, ora horror “flick” might cause shock or fear. These aural, visual oraudio-visual cues may be identified, captured and processed by thenetwork access device in real or quasi real-time. A variety of acousticmodels can be created to monitor different aural cues, such as a screamwhich, obviously, has different properties than laughter. In the case ofconversation, the inventive method can identify dialog without the needfor complicated speech recognition technology, or the need to evenunderstand the content at all. Such mapping of user's audio or visualexpressions for the purpose of authentication is known in the art.

In addition to monitoring the frequency and duration of such cues, inaccordance with aspects of the invention, an interested entity or devicecan record when such viewer feedback is generated. For example, aset-top box (in the HFC context) knows what multimedia content (i.e., TVshow) is being shown and the points in the show if and when, the viewerhas which type of reactions thereto. This data, as described above, canbe temporally correlated with the media content, thereby enabling thegeneration of a continuous ratings profile.

Another aspect of the invention comprises a memory medium storingmachine readable instructions which, when executed by a processor enablea system, device or other entity/apparatus to generate theabove-described ratings from passively obtained user cues. The memorymedium may be part of the network access device described above, ordisposed anywhere within the network or a separate entity responsiblefor generating ratings for multimedia programming. The memory medium andinstructions may be embodied in software, hardware or firmware, as iswell understood by those of ordinary skill in the art.

The foregoing detailed description is to be understood as being in everyrespect illustrative and exemplary, but not restrictive, and the scopeof the invention disclosed herein is not to be determined from thedescription of the invention, but rather from the claims as interpretedaccording to the full breadth permitted by the patent laws. It is to beunderstood that various modifications will be implemented by thoseskilled in the art, without departing from the scope and spirit of theinvention.

1. A method of gathering multimedia content that is distributed to endusers over a communications network, comprising the step of: receivingdata over the communications network, the data comprising cues providingfeedback regarding the multimedia content from at least one of the endusers in a manner transparent to the user.
 2. The method recited inclaim 1, wherein the cues are audio cues.
 3. The method recited in claim1, wherein the cues are video cues.
 4. The method recited in claim 1,wherein the cues are audio-visual cues.
 5. The method recited in claim1, wherein a network access device receives the cues from a user of thecommunications network.
 6. The method recited in claim 5, wherein thenetwork access device is a set-top box coupled to a Hybrid Fiber Coax(HFC) distribution network.
 7. The method recited in claim 1, whereinthe network access device processes the cues and generates a ratingprofile relating to the multimedia content.
 8. The method recited inclaim 1, wherein a network element receives the cues and generates arating profile relating to the multimedia content.
 9. A system forgathering user feedback to multimedia content that is distributed to endusers over a communications network, comprising: a network elementadapted for receiving data over the communications network, the datacomprising cues providing feedback regarding the multimedia content fromat least one of the end users in a manner transparent to the user. 10.The system recited in claim 9, wherein the network element is adapted toreceive audio cues.
 11. The system recited in claim 9, wherein thenetwork element is adapted to receive visual cues.
 12. The systemrecited in claim 9, wherein the network element is adapted to receiveaudio-visual cues.
 13. The system recited in claim 9, wherein thenetwork element is a set-top box coupled to a HFC distribution network.14. A memory medium containing programmable machine readableinstructions which, when executed by a processor, enable a networkelement to obtain user feedback data regarding multimedia content thatis communicated to end users over a communications network, by:receiving data over the communications network, the data comprising cuesproviding feedback regarding the multimedia content from at least one ofthe end users in a manner transparent to the user.
 15. The memory mediumrecited in claim 14, wherein the cues are audio cues.
 16. The methodrecited in claim 14, wherein the cues are video cues.
 17. The methodrecited in claim 14, wherein the cues are audio-visual cues.